The Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada acted as the first Continental Qualification regatta for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.One spot was up for grabs for the best ranked nation from North America and from South America in the Laser and Laser Radial.
The two North American nations to qualify are:
Laser - Trinidad and Tobago
Laser Radial - Aruba
The two South American nations to qualify are:
Laser - El Salvador
Laser Radial - Uruguay
Of the 46 places available on the Rio 2016 Laser start line, 34 places (including hosts Brazil) have now been snapped up. Ten more places will be awarded through a string of Continental Qualification Events sanctioned by ISAF, to finish by 1 June 2016 at the latest. The remaining two places in the Laser will be decided via the International Olympic Committee Tripartite Commission.
Twenty two Laser Radial spots out of 37 have been taken following the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships and the Pan-American Games. As hosts, Brazil automatically receives a place. The next opportunity for sailors to qualify will come at the 2015 World Championship which is set to be held in Al Mussanah, Oman at the end of November. Following the Laser Radial Worlds, the Continental Qualification Events will decide nine further spots with the remaining two decided by the IOC's Tripartite Commission.
The inclusion for the first time by ISAF of Continental Qualification Events in the Qualification Pathway is an opportunity to develop sailing around the world and reflect the IOC Qualification System Principles. Key requirements of these Principles are to ensure the participation of the best athletes and ensure universality through continental representation.
Click here to view the nations qualified following the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds.
Click here to view the Rio 2016 Qualification System.
Guatemala's Juan Ignacio Maegli took gold at the Pan Am Games following a consistent week of racing. From the 13 race series, including the Medal Race, Maegli took one race victory but remained in the top five throughout with only a discarded 17 blemishing a strong run of results.
Robert Scheidt (BRA) walked away with silver whilst Canada's Lee Parkhill took bronze on his home waters.
In the Laser Radial, Paige Railey (USA) walked away with the victory, her second Pan Am gold medal following her success at the 2007 edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Uruguay's Dolores Moreira booked her nation a spot at Rio 2016 with a silver medal. Moreira's rise has been a rapid one. From finishing ninth at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, to gold fleet racing at the 2014 ISAF Worlds where she finished 31st to securing her nation a spot at Rio 2016, Moreira will be one to watch building up to Rio 2016 and beyong.
Bronze medal in the Laser Radial went the way of Brazil's Fernanda Decnop.
Click here for Pan American Games Results